Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani confirmed, today, Thursday, the government's orientation towards the industrial sector to cover the needs of the local market. A statement from his media office stated that Al-Sudani sponsored, today, Thursday, the signing ceremony of 3 partnership contracts for industrial projects with the private sector, in the presence of the Minister of Industry and Minerals. The projects include, according to the statement, the establishment of a factory to produce nitrogenous fertilizers urea in Abu Al-Khaseeb District / Basra, with a production capacity of (1) million tons annually, and a project to rehabilitate and operate Baiji Fertilizer Factory, Salah Al-Din, with a production capacity of (672) thousand tons annually, and a project to expand the soda and chlorine factory in Babylon, with a design capacity of 90 (tons / day) caustic soda, and 80 (tons / day) chlorine. According to the statement, Al-Sudani renewed the government's orientation towards the industrial sector to cover the needs of the local market, and export the surplus, referring to the three projects that will meet Iraq's full need for fertilizers, especially the Baiji Fertilizer Project, which was reconstructed after being destroyed by terrorism. He explained that the government is keen to secure operating gas at subsidized prices for these projects, in order to provide the necessary chemical products for the oil industry, which used to require hard currency to import them from abroad. Al-Sudani also urged, according to the statement, the implementing companies to shorten the contractual period for completion, and direct those in charge of the work to present the problems and obstacles facing the projects in order to expedite their solution. He also directed the administrations of public companies to support the investors implementing these projects. He stressed that the government has no intention of privatizing government companies, but rather to achieve partnership with the private sector in a productive man ner, and in order to achieve added value, which is the real reform, in addition to supporting the private sector, as the success of any ministry in these partnerships will be an incentive for other ministries, in addition to the reform measures taken in the banking sector, which represent a pillar for supporting successful projects in the private sector, and preparing economic feasibility studies. He explained that the signed contracts include the establishment of a urea plant in Abu Al-Khaseeb, relying on dry gas in cooperation with the Southern Fertilizers General Company, as well as the rehabilitation and operation of Baiji Fertilizers Plant, in partnership with a Qatari company, and the technological foundations of a leading Swiss company in the field of ammonia and urea. As for the expansion of the soda and chlorine plant in Al-Furat General Company, it adds the product of soda flakes and some Chemical products to meet local needs. Source: National Iraqi News Agency